60000 smolts is actually pretty small as far as hatchery releases go, you might get 1-2K back.

Exactly... a whopping 1500-2000 fish return.... WHOOPEE!

So what's the point of planting the fish in the first place? With so little potential reward at the end... at a time when NO FISHING is planned during dam removal and the ensuing 5 years? How are the out-of-basin fish to be removed from a system that is supposedly being managed for WILD recovery?

There's talk of a weir that could be used to remove these fish, but the weir cannot fish at all flows, and some amount of straying past the weir is bound to occur. You can't possibly believe they can get 'em all, so why expend the effort and $$$ to plant 'em there when it only obligates them to even more effort and expense to get 'em the hell out?

The equation stacks up like this.... virtually all risk and virtually ZERO reward. The risk benefit analysis clearly speaks against Chambers fish being planted in the Elwha.

If they are really that hard up for what little harvest benefit the program will produce, why not just plant those turds in another OP stream where hatchery steelhead harvest is already occurring. Damage already done, just put 'em there.

Just leave 'em out of the Elwha!

Unless one anticipates selective fisheries. The Genie is out of the bottle Francis. This only the first of many things that will come with non lethal selective methods.

You will enjoy the conversations ( loudly ) for many years to come.

I agree!

I agree too

but what are we going to do have the elwah and the quill netting the brat producing rivers? at the same time. or split up 7 days a week? that's no good for those systems either...

Just remember there's something like 87 species of mammals, fish and birds that haven't signed on to the selective fishing plan. With all the habitat loss in other area's it might be really hard to rebuild theses stocks without the hatchery's..

Just got this message....will be interesting just finding out what the plans are for Lake Sutherland.


Mike Gross of WDFW's region 6 office.

"In response to your question regarding Lake Sutherland, a date has been selected, and location and time have been set for the public meeting to discuss the proposed fishing moratorium on the Elwha River and tributaries, including Lake Sutherland. The details, which will be included in a press release soon, are: December 15 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Peninsula College’s Information Technology building, room M-125."

Hello all,

I'm new here and mostly lurk. This is a very interesting thread and I am glad to have read the stats, facts, and people's opinions. I am still pretty new to river fishing (2nd year), but when I first came in my buddy told me of the fabled Elwah and 100lb salmon. I then told the story and showed her a glimpse of the Elwah whenever we drive home from Forks. The largest salmon that we have caught is a 15lb coho (wife) and it was probably one of the proudest moment we have had as a couple.

With that said, I do not see how they can not even give the fish a chance to do the dew themselves, before stepping in. Someone brought up the point of a fish kill with the silt that will result from the dam removal. How do they expect the wild fish to survive this? Especially since someone posted the dismal numbers that are returning right now? Do they have a means to mitigate that affect? Will they attempt a brood stock program? Have there been any plans to reduce or more heavily regulate ocean fishing? I have heard horror stories of MASSIVE accidental salmon catching by commercials.

Also I had a question if anyone knows the answer. Will the fish venture further and further upstream over time? Because I am under the impression that fish stay in the salt longer to develop more fat deposits to endure the further trek upstream. Could that be jumped started by moving wild fish up to these ideal spawning grounds? Also would that help reduce the loss from the lower rivers silt deposits ?

I haven't taken biology since 7th grade so please forgive any retardation or oversight in my questions and ideas. Thanks for allowing me to add my 2 cents to this discussion.

RB and Mara

If all hatchery fish where clipped and them stopped at the hatchery when returning, then releaseing the wild fish to go on up river to spawn wouldn't this work. It sounds like the river needs a little help to restore the fish runs.

Coondog,
They have put a weir across the river, but it will only withstand flows up to about 2,000 cfs. Once the dams come down and we get a pineapple express with huge amounts of rain, the Elwha will be up an roaring like the other OP rivers without dams. Good bye weir.....
Due to high water flows, I just don't see how they could reasonably expect to remove all the hatchery fish from the river at the hatchery.